the hand of ethelberta-第83节

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on　the　other　side　of　the　hollies；　and　Ethelberta　waited　till　the
walkers　should　have　passed。　　The　voices　of　two　men　reached　herself
and　the　woman　as　they　stood。　　They　were　close　to　the　house；　yet
screened　from　it　by　the　holly…bushes；　when　one　could　be　heard　to　say
distinctly；　as　if　with　his　face　turned　to　the　cottage

'Lady　Mountclere　gone　for　good？'

'I　suppose　so。　　Ha…ha！　　So　come；　so　go。'

The　speakers　passed　on；　their　backs　becoming　visible　through　the
opening。　　They　appeared　to　be　woodmen。

'What　Lady　Mountclere　do　they　mean？'　said　Ethelberta。

The　woman　blushed。　　'They　meant　Miss　Gruchette。'

'Oha　nickname。'

'Yes。'

'Why？'

The　woman　whispered　why　in　a　story　of　about　two　minutes'　length。
Ethelberta　turned　pale。

'Is　she　going　to　return？'　she　inquired；　in　a　thin　hard　voice。

'Yes；　next　week。　　You　know　her；　m'm？'

'No。　　I　am　a　stranger。'

'So　much　the　better。　　I　may　tell　you；　then；　that　an　old　tale　is
flying　about　the　neighbourhoodthat　Lord　Mountclere　was　privately
married　to　another　woman；　at　Knollsea；　this　morning　early。　　Can　it
be　true？'

'I　believe　it　to　be　true。'

'And　that　she　is　of　no　family？'

'Of　no　family。'

'Indeed。　　Then　the　Lord　only　knows　what　will　become　of　the　poor
thing。　　There　will　be　murder　between　'em。'

'Between　whom？'

'Her　and　the　lady　who　lives　here。　　She　won't　budge　an　inchnot
she！'

Ethelberta　moved　aside。　　A　shade　seemed　to　overspread　the　world；　the
sky；　the　trees；　and　the　objects　in　the　foreground。　　She　kept　her
face　away　from　the　woman；　and；　whispering　a　reply　to　her　Good…
morning；　passed　through　the　hollies　into　the　leaf…strewn　path。　　As
soon　as　she　came　to　a　large　trunk　she　placed　her　hands　against　it
and　rested　her　face　upon　them。　　She　drew　herself　lower　down；　lower；
lower；　till　she　crouched　upon　the　leaves。　　'Ay'tis　what　father　and
Sol　meant！　　O　Heaven！'　she　whispered。

She　soon　arose；　and　went　on　her　way　to　the　house。　　Her　fair　features
were　firmly　set；　and　she　scarcely　heeded　the　path　in　the
concentration　which　had　followed　her　paroxysm。　　When　she　reached　the
park　proper　she　became　aware　of　an　excitement　that　was　in　progress
there。

Ethelberta's　absence　had　become　unaccountable　to　Lord　Mountclere；
who　could　hardly　permit　her　retirement　from　his　sight　for　a　minute。
But　at　first　he　had　made　due　allowance　for　her　eccentricity　as　a
woman　of　genius；　and　would　not　take　notice　of　the　half…hour's
desertion；　unpardonable　as　it　might　have　been　in　other　classes　of
wives。　　Then　he　had　inquired；　searched；　been　alarmed：　　he　had
finally　sent　men…servants　in　all　directions　about　the　park　to　look
for　her。　　He　feared　she　had　fallen　out　of　a　window；　down　a　well；　or
into　the　lake。　　The　next　stage　of　search　was　to　have　been　drags　and
grapnels：　　but　Ethelberta　entered　the　house。

Lord　Mountclere　rushed　forward　to　meet　her；　and　such　was　her
contrivance　that　he　noticed　no　change。　　The　searchers　were　called
in；　Ethelberta　explaining　that　she　had　merely　obeyed　the　wish　of　her
brother　in　going　out　to　meet　him。　　Picotee；　who　had　returned　from
her　walk　with　Sol；　was　upstairs　in　one　of　the　rooms　which　had　been
allotted　to　her。　　Ethelberta　managed　to　run　in　there　on　her　way
upstairs　to　her　own　chamber。

'Picotee；　put　your　things　on　again；'　she　said。　　'You　are　the　only
friend　I　have　in　this　house；　and　I　want　one　badly。　　Go　to　Sol；　and
deliver　this　message　to　himthat　I　want　to　see　him　at　once。　　You
must　overtake　him；　if　you　walk　all　the　way　to　Anglebury。　　But　the
train　does　not　leave　till　four；　so　that　there　is　plenty　of　time。'

'What　is　the　matter？'　said　Picotee。　　'I　cannot　walk　all　the　way。'

'I　don't　think　you　will　have　to　do　thatI　hope　not。'

'He　is　going　to　stop　at　Corvsgate　to　have　a　bit　of　lunch：　　I　might
overtake　him　there；　if　I　must！'

'Yes。　　And　tell　him　to　come　to　the　east　passage　door。　　It　is　that
door　next　to　the　entrance　to　the　stable…yard。　　There　is　a　little
yew…tree　outside　it。　　On　second　thoughts　you；　dear；　must　not　come
back。　　Wait　at　Corvsgate　in　the　little　inn　parlour　till　Sol　comes　to
you　again。　　You　will　probably　then　have　to　go　home　to　London　alone；
but　do　not　mind　it。　　The　worst　part　for　you　will　be　in　going　from
the　station　to　the　Crescent；　but　nobody　will　molest　you　in　a　four…
wheel　cab：　　you　have　done　it　before。　　However；　he　will　tell　you　if
this　is　necessary　when　he　gets　back。　　I　can　best　fight　my　battles
alone。　　You　shall　have　a　letter　from　me　the　day　after　to…morrow；
stating　where　I　am。　　I　shall　not　be　here。'

'But　what　is　it　so　dreadful？'

'Nothing　to　frighten　you。'　　But　she　spoke　with　a　breathlessness　that
completely　nullified　the　assurance。　　'It　is　merely　that　I　find　I
must　come　to　an　explanation　with　Lord　Mountclere　before　I　can　live
here　permanently；　and　I　cannot　stipulate　with　him　while　I　am　here　in
his　power。　　Till　I　write；　good…bye。　　Your　things　are　not　unpacked；
so　let　them　remain　here　for　the　presentthey　can　be　sent　for。'

Poor　Picotee；　more　agitated　than　her　sister；　but　never　questioning
her　orders；　went　downstairs　and　out　of　the　house。　　She　ran　across
the　shrubberies；　into　the　park；　and　to　the　gate　whereat　Sol　had
emerged　some　half…hour　earlier。　　She　trotted　along　upon　the　turnpike
road　like　a　lost　doe；　crying　as　she　went　at　the　new　trouble　which
had　come　upon　Berta；　whatever　that　trouble　might　be。　　Behind　her　she
heard　wheels　and　the　stepping　of　a　horse；　but　she　was　too　concerned
to　turn　her　head。　　The　pace　of　the　vehicle　slackened；　however；　when
it　was　abreast　of　Picotee；　and　she　looked　up　to　see　Christopher　as
the　driver。

'Miss　Chickerel！'　he　said；　with　surprise。

Picotee　had　quickly　looked　down　again；　and　she　murmured；　'Yes。'

Christopher　asked　what　he　could　not　help　asking　in　the
circumstances；　'Would　you　like　to　ride？'

'I　should　be　glad；'　said　she；　overcoming　her　flurry。　　'I　am　anxious
to　overtake　my　brother　Sol。'

'I　have　arranged　to　pick　him　up　at　Corvsgate；'　said　Christopher。

He　descended；　and　assisted　her　to　mount　beside　him；　and　drove　on
again；　almost　in　silence。　　He　was　inclined　to　believe　that　some
supernatural　legerdemain　had　to　do　with　these　periodic　impacts　of
Picotee　on　his　path。　　She　sat　mute　and　melancholy　till　they　were
within　half…a…mile　of　Corvsgate。

'Thank　you；'　she　said　then；　perceiving　Sol　upon　the　road；　'there　is
my　brother；　I　will　get　down　now。'

'He　was　going　to　ride　on　to　Anglebury　with　me；'　said　Julian。

Picotee　did　not　reply；　and　Sol　turned　round。　　Seeing　her　he
instantly　exclaimed；　'What's　the　matter；　Picotee？'

She　explained　to　him　that　he　was　to　go　back　immediately；　and　meet
her　sister　at　the　door　by　the　yew；　as　Ethelberta　had　charged　her。
Christopher；　knowing　them　so　well；　was　too　much　an　interested　member
of　the　group　to　be　left　out　of　confidence；　and　she　included　him　in
her　audience。

'And　what　are　you　to　do？'　said　Sol　to　her。

'I　am　to　wait　at　Corvsgate　till　you　come　to　me。'

'I　can't　understand　it；'　Sol　muttered；　with　a　gloomy　face。　　'There's
something　wrong；　and　it　was　only　to　be　expected；　that's　what　I　say；
Mr。　Julian。'

'If　necessary　I　can　take　care　of　Miss　Chickerel　till　you　come；'　said
Christopher。

'Thank　you；'　said　Sol。　　'Then　I　will　return　to　you　as　soon　as　I　can；
at　the　〃Castle〃　Inn；　just　ahead。　　'Tis　very　awkward　for　you　to　be　so
burdened　by　us；　Mr。　Julian；　but　we　are　in　a　trouble　that　I　don't　yet
see　the　bottom　of。'

'I　know；'　said　Christopher　kindly。　　'We　will　wait　for　you。'

He　then　drove　on　with　Picotee　to　the　inn；　which　was　not　far　off；　and
Sol　returned　again　to　Enckworth。　　Feeling　somewhat　like　a　thief　in
the　night；　he　zigzagged　through　the　park；　behind　belts　and　knots　of
trees；　until　he　saw　the　yew；　dark　and　clear；　as　if　drawn　in　ink　upon
the　fair　face　of　the　mansion。　　The　way　up　to　it　was　in　a　little
cutting　between　shrubs；　the　door　being　a　private　entrance；　sunk
below　the　surface　of　the　lawn；　and　invisible　from　other　parts　of　the
same　front。　　As　soon　as　he　reached　it；　Ethelberta　opened　it　at　once；
as　if　she　had　listened　for　his　footsteps。

She　took　him　along　a　passage　in　the　basement；　up　a　flight　of　steps；
and　into　a　huge；　solitary；　chill　apartment。　　It　was　the　ball…room。
Spacious　mirrors　in　gilt　frames　formed　panels　in　the　lower　part　of
the　walls；　the　remainder　being　toned　in　sage…green。　　In　a　recess
between　each　mirror　was　a　statue。　　The　ceiling　rose　in　a　segmental
curve；　and　bore　sprawling　upon　its　face　gilt　figures　of　wanton
goddesses；　cupids；　satyrs　with　tambourines；　drums；　and　trumpets；　the
whole　ceiling　seeming　alive　with　them。　　But　the　room　was　very　gloomy
now；　there　being　little　light　admitted　from　without；　and　the
reflections　from　the　mirrors　gave　a　depressing　coldness　to　the
scene。　　It　was　a　place　intended　to　look　joyous　by　night；　and
whatever　it　chose　to　look　by　day。

'We　are　safe　here；'　said　she。　　'But　we　must　listen　for　footsteps。　　I
have　only　five　minutes：　　Lord　Mountclere　is　waiting　for　me。　　I　mean
to　leave　this　place；　come　what　may。'

'Why？'　said　Sol；　in　astonishment。

'I　cannot　tell　yousomething　has　occurred。　　God　has　got　me　in　his
power　at　last；　and　is　going　to　scourge　me　for　my　bad　doingsthat's
what　it　seems　like。　　Sol；　listen　to　me；　and　do　exactly　what　I　say。
Go　to　Anglebury；　hire　a　brougham；　bring　it